Decision 2008: Blinking our way to the White House
During this season of one primary election after another, I find myself thinking often of the book “Blink”, specifically the part about “Warren G. Harding”. In the book, Gladwell tells the story of Warren Harding, a man whose physical presence and voice so impressed all who met him with their presidential quality that it seemed only right he should attain the Oval Office. Needless to say, Harding’s capabilities did not match his image, and his time in the White House is widely regarded as one of the least successful ever.
Obama will be the democratic candidate because between he and Hillary, he most closely resembles the man that the masses visualize when they think of a president.
Everyone keeps telling me Barack Obama is inspirational and is about change. He’s a “uniter” and an outsider. Isn’t that exactly how George W. marketed himself? And why don’t I feel inspired. Is it too much to want more a meatier vision statement instead of all the lite fluffy content we’re being fed? And if he really represents change why is that the old-schoolers (i.e, Ted Kennedy) and ineffective seat warmers (i.e., John Kerry) support him?
I am not a huge fan of Hillary. I think she is very smart, very level-headed and very capable. I suspect she may be more capable than Obama. What I need to see, but don’t, is her moral compass…I have too many memories of her voting for the war and blaming issues on the vast right-wing conspiracy. And just what is her vision?
Though at one time I might have answered otherwise, I cannot ever imagine myself voting Republican. They aren’t conservative, they are extreme. In exchange for power, they’ve sold their soul to the religious right, the NRA, and all the worst corporations.
Though I anxiously await the day that W rides off into the sunset, I find myself more pessimistic about the state of American presidential politics than I did at the outset. These candidates of ”change” don’t feel so new and improved to me. Despite evidence to the contrary, here’s hoping that 2012 will be better.
